Space and Physics
PUBLISHED
A few weeks ago, YouTuber Grant Thompson from "The King of Random" channel posted a video pouring liquid nitrogen into a balloon. Now, he’s back at it with a much, much bigger balloon.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.The principle at play is the same as before but on a larger scale. When the liquid nitrogen, which is -195.8°C (-320.4°F), is introduced to a comparatively higher temperature, it expands and effectively boils, causing the balloon to inflate. But, at the same time, as Grant found out the hard way, the cool temperatures also make the thin plastic balloon very brittle.
The result is some explosive backyard science. Although, if you are messing around with liquid nitrogen balloon explosions, it's recommended you wear some eye protection other than a pair of shades.
